Boat Race 2025 LIVE: Latest updates as Cambridge and Oxford do battle once again – UK Times

The Blue Boats will vie for glory along a four-mile stretch of the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake, with Oxford out to end a streak of Cambridge dominance in recent years. The Light Blues have won seven years in a row in the women’s race and six of the last eight men’s races.

To combat this, Oxford have a new-look squad, with a brand-new coaching setup and a host of former Olympians in their Blue Boat.

Cambridge’s preparation for the race has been rocked by a spat over selection, with Oxford successfully banning three of the opposition crew, all PGCE students, from taking part in a debate which has dragged on for months.

Whether that has a material impact in ending Cambridge’s long winning streak remains to be seen, with all to play for.

The women’s race will start at 1.20pm with the men’s race following at 2.20pm BST on Sunday 13 April. The action will be shown live on the BBC, with coverage getting underway at 12.45pm.

We’ll bring you the latest build-up.

The annual Boat Race returns for another day of elite action on the River Thames.

This year’s edition has been rocked by controversy in the lead-up to the pivotal day, with a row erupting over eligibility rules after Olympian Tom Ford was banned from taking part for Cambridge.

Earlier, three post-graduate teacher training students were also deemed ineligible, with the decision made less than a month before the two universities were scheduled to face off.

The spat has heightened the stakes in an already-dramatic race, with Oxford seeking to end years of Cambridge domination of the event. The light blue competitors have won seven years in a row in the women’s race and six of the last eight men’s editions.